The Labor enquirer., 1887-12-17

= : =
alienable rights. W ain q ~ aholiiioa 4
system which oompelS t6on 10 ~ the1
fellow creatureslor The ~ q 0odS IN - q
and permits monopoliss 70 depEivo hbor 4
lis natural opportunities lng 6mplogm6n,
husfilling the land with tEanpsau6 poupelu
and bringing about an unnatuTal compet,
tion. which tends to reduce Wagee 70 starvu
ton rates and to make the wealth-produce
the industrial slave ofthoss who grow ricl
by his toll.
Holding, moreover. that the advantages
arising from social growth and Improvement
belong to society 81 large. We aim at the abol
ition ofthe system which mskes such benea
cent inventions a. the railrnad and telegraph
means for the oppression Of the people az
the aggrandizement Of an aristocfacy o
wealth and power. r.
We declare the truepurpose Of government,
to be the maintenance Of that sacred rieht 81
property which gives to every ono opportu
nifty to employ his labor and security that b.
shall enjoy its fruits; TO prevent the stron1
from expressing the weak and the unscrupu
lous from robbing the honest; and to do foI
the equal benefit Of all such things a can be
better done'by organized society than by in.
dividuals; and we aim at the abolition OF al
laws which give to any class Of citizens an ad.
vantage. either judicial, financial, industrial
or political, that are not equally shared by
all others.
We call upon all who seek the emancipation
oflabor and who would mare the American
Union and Its component states democratic
commonwealths Of really free and independ.
ent citizens, to ignore all minor dinerences
and Join with rs in organising . great M
tional paaty on this broad platform Of nat
ural right and equal justice.
We do not aim ct securing any forced
equality in the distribution Of weaith. We
do not propose that the state shall attempt TO
control production, conduct distribution, or
In anywise interfere with the equal rights OF
Others. Nor do we propose that the state
Shall take possession OF land and either work
1t or rent 1t out.
What we propose is not the disturbing Of
any man In his holding or title, but by abol-
ishing alltaxes on industry or it, products
70 leave TO the producer the full fruits OF his
exertion, and by taxation Of land values 70
the exclusion Of improvements, TO devote to
the common use those values which, arising
not from exertion Of the individual, but nom
growth Of society, belong TO the community
as whole. This increased taxation OF land,
not according to its area, but according to its
value, must, while relieving working farmers
and small homestead owners OF the undue
burdens now imposed upon them, make 1t
improbable to hold land for speculation, and
thus throw open abundant opportunities for
the employment of labor and the building mn
OF homes.
While thus simplifying government, by
doing away with horde Of ofIicials required
by the present system of taxntion, with its
incentives TO fraud and corruption, We would
further promote Uncommon veal and fur.
ther secure equal rights ofall by placing I'M.
der public control SUCH agencies as are In
their nature monopolies. We would have
our municipalities supply their inhabitants
with water, light and heat; we would have
the general government issue all money with.
out the intervention Of banks; we would add
postal telegraph system and postal savings
banks to the postal service, and would as
sumo public control and ownership of those
Iron roads which have become highways of
modern commerce.
While declaring the foregoing to be the fun
damental principles and aims of the United
Labor Party, and while conscious that no re-.
form can give effectual and permanent relief
10 labor that does not involve legal recoeni.
tlon OF equal rights to natural opportunities,
we nevertheless, as measures Of relief from
some OF the evil effects Of ignoring those
rights, favor such legislation a. may tend to
reduce the hours of labor, 10 prevent employ
ment OF children Of tender years, to avoid
competition Of convict labor with honest in.
dustry, to secure sanitary inspection of tene-
ments, factories and mines, and to put an
end to the abuse ofthe conspiracy laws.
We desire also to simplify he procedure OF
our courts, and diminish the expenses of To-
gal proceedings, that the poor may be c,a,s..
on an equality with the rich, and the long
decays which now result In such scandalous
rnIs'"riieses OF Justice may be prevented
aud since the ballot is the only means by
which, In our republic, the redress OF political
and social grievances is to be sousas, W,
especial? ard emphatically declare for the
adoption OF = httis known a. the "Austra.
Han system OF voting" In order that the
effectual secrecy Of the ballot and the relief
ofcandidates for public offices nom the heavy
expenses now imposed upon them may pre.
vent bribery and intimidation, do away "
the practical discrimination in favor u: lie
rich and the interruptions. and essen the
pernicious influence Of money N politics.
In support Of these aims we solicit the CO.
operation of all patriotic citizens who, sick
ofthe degradation of politics, desire by con.
stitutional methods to establish Justice, "a
preserve liberty, to extend The spirit Of frater.
nifty, and to elevate humanity.